Condominiums are a great option for people who want the benefits of ownership, without the responsibility of yard maintenance or property management.

Still, condo ownership is a different commitment than renting. Condominiums are governed by a board of directors and bylaws that specify conditions and requirements that govern the community.

Learning as much as you can about the condo and its culture and rules before you buy will help you make a decision that’s right for you.

The condo community

Each condo development is a corporation usually run by a board of directors made up of owners — which could include you! As an owner, you can vote on many decisions that affect how the community is run, and you can run for election to the board of directors.

Many condo owners enjoy having some degree of control over community-wide decisions, such as whether to upgrade a parking lot or invest in a community garden. Together, the condo corporation should have the know-how needed to make good property-management decisions — and the collective buying power for amenities, such as a swimming pool or sauna, that you might not be able to afford on your own.

If you’re new to the neighbourhood, you might appreciate the “ready-made” community condo living provides: people who have a common interest in the maintenance and security of the development, and even social functions.

Living in a condo community does mean you have to be prepared to negotiate with other owners on matters of importance to the community. It’s good to have neighbours close by, but you and your new neighbours might have different ideas of acceptable behaviour, especially on matters that affect the whole condominium.

Most condos have rules focusing on the day-to-day concerns of condominium living. They might be strict or relaxed depending on the nature of the corporation, but they help ensure that the condo is a safe, pleasant and attractive place to live. Rules also spell out what your rights and obligations are as an owner.

A condo’s rules typically cover such things as the number of occupants per unit, whether or not pets are allowed and any restrictions, permissible noise levels and quiet hours, parking issues, and when you may use certain amenities, such as the pool or exercise room. There might also be rules about altering the unit or its appearance, such as the style and colour of doors or window coverings.

Knowing the condo bylaws and talking with residents while you’re still shopping around can help you determine what sort of neighbourhood you’d be moving into. Simple issues, such as a ban on satellite dishes or a limit on the number of people allowed to live in a unit, might help you decide that a particular condo development is right one for you.

Likewise, residents can tell you whether the condo hosts any social, entertainment and recreational activities; these will usually tell you something about the interests of your potential new neighbours. Sometimes activities are geared to seniors or creative professionals which will give you a feel for whether the community will suit you.

To help you decide if condo living is right for you, check out the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. (CMHC) Condominium Buyer’s Guide, recently expanded with information specific to each province and territory. It’s online at www.cmhc.ca/condoguide.

Steve Jacques, CMHC’s Ontario manager — community development, research and professional services, can be reached at sjacques@cmhc.ca.